Here Are Two Ways to Support Jordan Chiles

Jordan Chiles is an exceptional athlete and part of the gold medal-winning American women’s gymnastics team. In the individual floor exercise competition, she earned the bronze medal, a recognition of her remarkable display of athleticism and excellence. 

The International Olympic Committee unjustly revoked Chiles’s medal—a move that has, in the past, been reserved largely for athletes found guilty of cheating or using performance-enhancing drugs. Neither of these is the case for Chiles—whose only fault was the bureaucratic confusion and failures of the various judicial bodies governing her sport. The U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee is now fighting the decision. 

After Chiles’s competition, her coach appealed her score—and the judges, upon reconsideration, adjusted the score, awarding her the bronze. However, because a later claim contended that Chiles’s coach was four seconds late in lodging the appeal, a panel then stripped her of the medal. USA Gymnastics says they have video evidence that the appeal was made before the one-minute deadline, but the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) has refused to review it. 

Once the appeal was accepted, it should not have been overturned. There are questions about a conflict of interest around the judge who ruled against Chiles. And overall, this is against the spirit of the Olympics. The Romanian team—which was awarded the bronze after it was taken from Chiles—suggested three athletes should each receive a medal, a solution which has precedent.

This isn’t about taking an honor away from any other athlete. Whether two or three athletes are awarded bronze medals or just Chiles—as the judges had ruled—Jordan Chiles earned that medal. And the International Olympic Committee must make this right. 

How You Can Help

Send Jordan Chiles a Postcard

Show your solidarity with Jordan Chiles as she fights to keep the bronze medal she earned by sending her a postcard of encouragement. Help us push back against the racist hate messages Chiles has faced by sending her messages of support and praise. 

You can address fan mail to: 

Jordan Chiles
USA Gymnastics
1099 N. Meridian St.
Suite 800
Indianapolis, IN 46204

Instructions for Postcards: 

Click the images above to download the postcards.

Postcards are free to download and are designed to be printed two-sided, on cardstock with a weight of 80-110 pounds. We recommend doing a test print to make sure they are printing properly. Postcards will require a USPS postcard-rate stamp or regular letter-rate stamp, depending on the size. See the USPS website for specifications.

Take a photo of your printed postcard and tag MoveOn to help spread the love on social media as well! Find us at @MoveOn on Twitter and Instagram and @MoveOnOrg on TikTok! In your caption, share the petition calling on the Swiss Federal Tribunal and International Olympic Committee to right this wrong and let Jordan Chiles keep her bronze medal: moveon.org/bronze. 

Sign Our Petition

There is no confusion about Chiles’s exceptional talent or the score she received—she earned the bronze medal. The IOC must reverse its mistaken decision now. 

Sign this petition and demand the International Olympic Committee recognize Chiles for her gymnastic excellence and award her the bronze.

The post Here Are Two Ways to Support Jordan Chiles appeared first on MoveOn: People-Powered Progress.